IRVINE, California – Sunday marked the official beginning of a new and more intense phase of the FIFA World Cup 2026 for the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) and the 31 other nations still in contention.
As Canada took on South Africa at Los Angeles Stadium in the first-ever Round of 32 in the World Cup’s 96-year history, the USMNT resumed training about 50 miles south at its base camp in Orange County Great Park. The American side, fresh from topping Group D – only the third time in their history that they have achieved this feat and the first since 2010 – is now turning its full attention to the knockout rounds.
The U.S. will meet Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1, in the Round of 32, marking the start of the single-elimination stage. From this point, the format is straightforward: victory ensures progression, while defeat results in elimination. Every moment, every play, and every touch of the ball will matter. The team’s focus and intensity have noticeably sharpened as they prepare in Irvine for what lies ahead.
“It’s more serious,” said striker Folarin Balogun. “It’s crunch time. It’s knockout football… this is the business end. This is the stage where the big players step forward, carry the pressure, and make things happen.”
Balogun has indeed been one of the players making things happen for the USMNT so far in their World Cup campaign. Although he sat out the group stage finale against Türkiye to avoid yellow card accumulation, he currently leads the team in scoring at the tournament. The New York-born forward has already made a strong impact, scoring a brace against Paraguay and forcing an own goal against Australia, as he aims to become, in his own words, “inevitable.”
Having started the first two group matches, Balogun was among the nine changes made by head coach Mauricio Pochettino between the June 19 match against Australia and the closing group fixture against Türkiye on June 25. With the U.S. already assured of winning Group D and Türkiye eliminated, the match had no bearing on qualification, giving Pochettino a chance to rotate his squad and provide valuable playing time to backup players ahead of the knockout rounds.
Wingback Sergiño Dest, another starter from the Paraguay and Australia fixtures, came off the bench against Türkiye, replacing midfielder Gio Reyna for 24 minutes plus stoppage time. The 25-year-old has been a key presence for the team on both ends of the pitch. While still awaiting his first World Cup goal, as one of 13 returnees from the 2022 squad in Qatar, Dest understands the gravity of the upcoming elimination stage.
“It’s a knockout round, and if you want to win the World Cup, you have to beat everyone and be able to beat everyone, from Europe or Africa, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “We just want to win.”
For Dest, the knockout rounds demand total focus at every moment. A single play can change the course of a match, as demonstrated by Canada’s dramatic stoppage-time winner from Stephen Eustáquio after 90 scoreless minutes against a resolute South Africa defence. One result, he noted, can alter the entire direction of a tournament.
“It gives you a little bit more pressure, but also a boost,” Dest said. “Even if sometimes you face teams that are better on paper, you just need a lucky day, so I feel like it’s more pressure for everyone.”
The USMNT heads into this stage riding a wave of momentum after finishing first in Group D and playing all three group matches in front of passionate home supporters on the West Coast. Despite a narrow defeat to Türkiye in their final group game, Pochettino remained upbeat in his post-match remarks. The Americans’ top finish in Group D saw them collect the most points in their World Cup group stage history. On Sunday, both Balogun and Dest reaffirmed the team’s positive mentality and collective belief heading into their Round of 32 meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina, nicknamed ‘The Dragons.’
“We’re very confident because we finished first in the group,” said Dest. “Everybody’s confident. We’re more experienced, we have better chemistry and we’re in a good headspace. Everybody is focused. The whole country believes right now, and I think that’s our advantage.”
As the knockout phase begins, the team anticipates shifts in venue, tempo, and overall intensity. Matches now come with shorter turnarounds, and the squad will be travelling from one city to another. However, one constant the players are counting on is the unwavering support from the American fans. Competing on home soil, with stadiums filled with supporters donning the Stars and Stripes, has given the team added motivation. Packed crowds at both Los Angeles Stadium and Seattle Stadium during the group stage have served as a significant boost for the side.
“As the team grew, the fans did as well,” Dest remarked. “The support that we get, especially in the friendlies before the World Cup and now during the World Cup, is massive. I love the energy because it lifts us, gives us an extra boost during matches, and that’s exactly what we need. We all have to do it together. That’s how we’ll make history.”
The USMNT will now head up the California coast, departing their Orange County base to move to the San Francisco Bay Area. Should they continue advancing, their path beyond the Round of 32 will keep them at familiar venues where they have already played and enjoyed strong fan backing – Seattle Stadium for the Round of 16 and Los Angeles Stadium for the Quarterfinals. Both venues have proven capable of generating an electric atmosphere, something that could play a crucial role as the Americans aim to make history on home turf.
But first, the immediate task awaits on Wednesday. Backed by their passionate supporters, the team’s next objective remains straightforward.
“We play on Wednesday, and the objective is to win,” said Balogun.
